Critical Matters

The advent of targeted temperature management has changed how we treat anoxic brain damage post cardiac arrest. In this episode of Critical Matters, we dive into the challenges and existing evidence regarding neuroprognostication in cardiac arrest survivors. Our guest is Fred Rincon, MD. Dr. Rincon is Associate Professor of Neurology and Neurological Surgery at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, PA. He is board certified in internal medicine and critical care (ABIM), neurology (ABPN), vascular neurology (ABPN), and neurocritical care (UCNS). Additional Resources Practice Guidelines on reducing brain injury following cardiopulmonary resuscitation. These guidelines are published by the American Academy of Neurology and endorsed by the Neurocritical Care Society. Click here to read.

In this episode, we discuss critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency (CIRCI). Our guest is Stephen Pastores, MD, FACP, FCCP, FCCM. Dr. Pastores is Director of the Critical Care Medicine Fellowship Training and Research Programs at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, NY. Dr. Pastores co-chaired an international multispecialty task force addressing this important topic. During our podcast, he discusses the recent publications by this task force on corticosteroid insufficiency and the role on corticosteroid replacement in critical illness. Additional Resources Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Critical Illness-Related Corticosteroid Insufficiency (CIRCI) in Critically Ill Patients (Part 1): Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) and European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ESICM) 2017. Click here to read. Critical Illness-Related Corticosteroid Insufficiency (CIRCI): A Narrative Review from a Multispecialty Task Force of the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) and the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ESICM). Click here to read. Adjunctive Glucocorticoid Therapy in Patients with Septic Shock​. ADRENAL Trial Investigators. Click here to read.

In our first episode, we discuss the potential role of Angiotensin II for treating shock and review the results of the ATHOS-3 clinical trial. Our guest is Stephen W. Trzeciak, MD, MPH. Dr. Trzeciak is Interim Chair of Internal Medicine and Head of Critical Care Medicine at Cooper University Health Care. Dr. Trzeciak holds academic appointments as Professor of Medicine and Professor of Emergency Medicine at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University. He is also a prolific investigator and author, with recognized expertise in the treatment of shock, early interventions in critical illness, and the interface between the emergency department and the intensive care unit. Additional Resources Sound Critical Care webinar on vasopressors. Please review for a more comprehensive discussion on current evidence-based vasopressor use in clinical practice. ATHOS-3 clinical trial. Randomized controlled trial evaluating the efficacy of Angiotensin II in raising blood pressure in vasodilatory shock. FDA press release. After recording this podcast, the FDA announced the approval of Angiotensin II.